Entwined with You(63)

MAYBE IT WAS because I’d just gotten laid myself that I saw the signs on Megumi. Or maybe my sex radar, as Cary called it, wasn’t on the fritz anymore. Whatever the reason, I knew my friend had slept with the guy she’d been planning on breaking up with and I could tell she wasn’t happy about it.


“Is it on or off?” I asked leaning on the reception counter.


“Oh, I broke it off,” she said glumly. “After I hit it with him again first. I figured it’d be liberating. Plus who knows how long my next dry spell will last.”


“Are you second-guessing your decision to end it?”


“Not really. He just acted all hurt about it, like I’d used him for sex. Which I guess I did, but he’s a no-strings-attached guy. I figured he wouldn’t have a problem with a no-strings-attached nooner.”


“So now your head’s all f*cked up.” I gave her a sympathetic smile. “Remember, this is the guy who hadn’t called you since Friday. He got lunch with a beautiful girl and an orgasm, not a bad deal.”


Her head canted to the side. “Yeah.”


“Yeah.”


Her mood visibly lifted. “Are you working out tonight, Eva?”


“I should, but my dad’s in town and I’m playing it on his schedule. If we go, you’re welcome to tag along, but I won’t know until after work.”


“I don’t want to intrude.”


“Is that an excuse I hear?”


Her grin was sheepish. “Maybe a little one.”


“If you want, you can come home with me after work and meet him. If he wants to work out, you can borrow something of mine to wear. If not, we can come up with something else to do.”


“I’d like that.”


“Okay, then we’re set.” It would be good for both of us. It would give my dad another look at the normalcy in my life and it would keep Megumi from torturing herself over Michael. “We’ll head out at five.”


“YOU live here?” Megumi tipped her head back to look at my apartment building. “Nice.”


Like the others on the tree-lined street, it had history and showed it off with the kinds of architectural detailing contemporary builders didn’t use anymore. The building had been updated and now sheltered residents with a modern glass overhang above the entrance. The addition meshed surprisingly well with the fa?ade.


“Come on,” I said to her, smiling at Paul as he opened the door for us.


When we exited the elevator on my floor, I forced myself not to glance at Gideon’s door. What would it be like to take a friend home to a place I shared with Gideon?


I wanted that. Wanted to build that with him.


I unlocked my apartment and took Megumi’s purse when we stepped inside. “Make yourself at home. I’m just going to let my dad know we’re here.”


She stared wide-eyed at the open floor plan of the living room and kitchen. “This place is huge.”


“We don’t need all this room, really.”


She grinned. “But who’s going to complain?”


“Right.”


I was turning toward the hallway leading to the guest room when my mom emerged from the hall leading to my bedroom and Cary’s, which was on the opposite side of the living area. I came to a halt, startled to see her wearing my skirt and blouse. “Mom? What are you doing here?”


Her reddened eyes locked on a point somewhere around my waist, her skin pale enough to make her makeup look overdone. That was when I realized she was wearing my cosmetics, too. Although we’d been mistaken for sisters on occasion, my gray eyes and soft olive skin tone came from my dad and necessitated a different color palette than the pastels my mom used.


Queasiness spread through my stomach. “Mom?”


“I have to go.” She wouldn’t meet my gaze. “I hadn’t realized it was so late.”


“Why are you wearing my clothes?” I asked, even though I knew.


“I spilled something on my dress. I’ll get these back to you.” She rushed past me, coming to another abrupt stop when she saw Megumi.


I couldn’t move; my feet felt rooted to the carpet. My hands fisted at my sides. I knew the walk of shame when I saw it. My chest tightened with anger and disappointment.


“Hi, Monica.” Megumi came forward to give her a hug. “How are you?”


“Megumi. Hi.” My mom clearly scrambled for more to say. “It’s great to see you. I wish I could stay and hang out with you girls, but I really have to run.”


“Is Clancy here?” I asked, not having paid attention to the other vehicles on the street when I’d arrived.


“No, I’ll grab a cab.” She still didn’t look directly at me, even when she turned her head in my direction.


“Megumi, would you mind sharing a cab with my mom? I’m sorry to flake on you, but I’m suddenly not feeling well.”


“Oh, sure.” She searched my face and I could see her picking up on my change of mood. “No problem.”